Don't miss the 1st Annual Urban Farm and Harvest Festival at the City of Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center.

MRCOG Agriculture Collaborative Sponsored Events

• Monthly Agriculture Collaborative Meeting: What can the new Farm Bill do for you, and other new resources for small and medium sized growers/producers. Speakers include: Mike McDow—USDA Rural Development, Craig Mapel—New Mexico Department of Agriculture, Dr. Jeff Bader—NM Cooperative Extension Service, Pam Roy—Farm to Table, and Bruce Milne—UNM Sustainability Program. This meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 10th from 9 am to 10:30 am at the MRCOG offices located at 809 Copper Ave NW.  For more information, contact Ann Simon at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Events Sponsored by Other Groups in the Community

For more information on the events below, please use the contact listed for each event.

• Urban Farm Festival: The City of Albuquerque Open Space Division presents the 1st Annual Urban Farm and Harvest Festival to celebrate the importance of our urban agricultural lands and open spaces. This free festival will feature local farmers and related organizations, and there will be live music, free workshops, and fun for the whole family. It will be held on Saturday, September 27th from 2 pm - 7 pm at the Open Space Visitor Center. More information/directions

• Farmers Market Day at the State Fair:  Sunday September 7th is Farmers Market Day at the NM State Fair.  More information/schedule

• UNM Lobo Growers Market and Sustainability Fair: It's time once again for Lobo Growers Market, which will kick off on Tuesday, September 23rd, from 10 am to 2 pm. The market is held on UNM Main Campus at Cornell Plaza, located north of the UNM Bookstore and Pope Joy Hall. For more information, or to participate as a vendor, please contact Rose Chavez at (505) 277-3325 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . The other dates for the market include October 21st and November 2nd.

• Farm Bill Briefing: The USDA will provide a Farm Bill briefing in Albuquerque, NM at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute on September 9, 2008 at 9:00 AM MST. The briefing is intended to inform Indian tribes on the new Farm Bill, Public Law 110-246, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.  Contact the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Ms. Annabelle J. Romero at 202-720-3808 with any questions, and to RSVP, please contact Mr. Lawrence Shorty, Director of the USDA / 1994 Program, at 202-870-8035 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  

• Special Events at the Los Ranchos Growers' & Arts/Crafts Market: September 13th is the 8th Annual Beans, Chile and Corn Festival with guest chefs Joe Sausage, and Bruce, the chile king. The market is held on Saturdays from 7am to 11 am at 6718 Rio Grande Blvd NW.  More information/directions

• Hubbell House Free Lecture Series: This month's free lecture is on Food and Agricultural Policy, with Pam Roy of the NM Food and Agricultural Policy Council, Co-Director of NM Farm to Table. Saturday, September 20th, from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Historic Gutierrez-Hubbell House and Demonstration Farm (a Bernalillo County Open Space Property).  More information/directions  

• Special Events at the Downtown Growers Market:  The Harvest Tasting Festival will be held on Saturday September 20th from 9 am to noon at the Downtown Growers Market, at Robinson Park (8th and Central). More information/directions

• Fit 2 Eat, A South Valley Food and Fitness Fiesta: Sunday, September 28th from 1-5pm at the Westside Community Center. Come celebrate the taste of the South Valley with farm fresh produce tastings and locally produced foods. Free salsa and yoga classes, outdoor games, a walk to Sanchez Farm and more! Sponsored by the South Valley Food and Fitness Network with 1000 Friends of New Mexico, the Rio Grande Community Development Corporation and the Westside Community Center. For more information contact Joane McEntire at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• NM Beef Industry Outreach Meetings: A series of four outreach meetings across NM concerning The State of the Beef Industry 2008 Report.  Attend and provide your input and ideas as New Mexico beef takes its next step into the future.   More information

• "U-pick" at Heidi's Raspberry Farm: Raspberries are now in season and ready to be picked by the pint at Heidi's Raspberry Farm in Corrales, NM. Saturdays and Sundays, from 9 am to 3 pm (ongoing weekly until supplies last/first frost).  More information/directions

• Erda Gardens Annual Harvest Festival: Erda Gardens will host its Annual Harvest Festival & Fundraiser on Sunday, September 28 from 2-6 pm at its Sanchez Farm location. There will be live music, activities for kids and adults, a delicious pot luck table, and a Silent Auction.  More information/directions

And don't forget to visit the variety of Albuquerque area farmers markets each week!

If you would like to have your local food/agriculture event listed for the month of October, please contact KT LaBadie at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .